Published: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2012 at 11:52 p.m.

Public-school students could get more flexibility in their schedules as the state Department of Education attempts to slash bureaucracy.

State officials announced Thursday that they are overhauling the handbook for school administrators to give individual school systems more leeway.

“Schools need to focus on student achievement, not filing reports with the state,” state Education Superintendent John White said. “If you trust educators, then you need to give them the flexibility to do their job.”

The changes must be approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education next week before they take effect.

Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Philip Martin is on the advisory committee that recommended the changes. He said most of the changes “won’t be earth-shattering,” but they will make it easier for principals and counselors to make the best possible schedules for their students.

Currently, for example, state regulations require that students take physical-education classes, even in cases where students participate in strenuous exercise after school.

“If you’ve got a kid who’s in cross-country and runs 10 miles a day, does he still need to take P.E.?” Martin asked. “Most people would say ‘No, he’s got all the physical activity he needs.’ ”

Martin said the state will now allow students to participate in the activities as a class that meets the P.E. requirement, as long as the activity involves more than 100 minutes of physical activity a week.

The dance team, for example, could practice during the last class hour for P.E. credit.

The state also plans to make it easier for schools to allow students to test out of certain classes.

Students with special talent for certain subjects can take proficiency tests that allow them to skip certain classes — a student who’s particularly good at math, for example, could take a proficiency test to get out of Algebra I.

The tests are rarely administered because they are particularly tough and comprehensive. But Martin said part of the problem has been getting state approval to administer the tests in the first place, something the new changes should help fix.

“It’s been difficult for us to get an exam that the state and everybody is happy with,” Martin said. “Basically with this they’re making it easier for us to give the tests.”

Lafourche Secondary Schools Supervisor Bubba Orgeron cautioned that schools would likely still be stingy in giving out such tests.

“You have to look at what’s in their best interests,” he said of students.

The state is also looking to give individual school systems more freedom to determine their calendar and schedules.

Orgeron said the calendar probably wouldn’t see major changes — schools are still required to hold a mandatory number of class hours — but schools could tweak the length of individual days if necessary.

“We’re going to look at it and see if there are some small changes here and there that we can make,” Orgeron. “But I don’t expect there’s going to be any kind of major change. Things are going to stay largely the same.”

Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright

<p>Public-school students could get more flexibility in their schedules as the state Department of Education attempts to slash bureaucracy.</p><p>State officials announced Thursday that they are overhauling the handbook for school administrators to give individual school systems more leeway.</p><p>“Schools need to focus on student achievement, not filing reports with the state,” state Education Superintendent John White said. “If you trust educators, then you need to give them the flexibility to do their job.”</p><p>The changes must be approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education next week before they take effect.</p><p>Terrebonne Parish Superintendent Philip Martin is on the advisory committee that recommended the changes. He said most of the changes “won't be earth-shattering,” but they will make it easier for principals and counselors to make the best possible schedules for their students.</p><p>Currently, for example, state regulations require that students take physical-education classes, even in cases where students participate in strenuous exercise after school.</p><p>“If you've got a kid who's in cross-country and runs 10 miles a day, does he still need to take P.E.?” Martin asked. “Most people would say 'No, he's got all the physical activity he needs.' ” </p><p>Martin said the state will now allow students to participate in the activities as a class that meets the P.E. requirement, as long as the activity involves more than 100 minutes of physical activity a week. </p><p>The dance team, for example, could practice during the last class hour for P.E. credit.</p><p>The state also plans to make it easier for schools to allow students to test out of certain classes.</p><p>Students with special talent for certain subjects can take proficiency tests that allow them to skip certain classes — a student who's particularly good at math, for example, could take a proficiency test to get out of Algebra I.</p><p>The tests are rarely administered because they are particularly tough and comprehensive. But Martin said part of the problem has been getting state approval to administer the tests in the first place, something the new changes should help fix.</p><p>“It's been difficult for us to get an exam that the state and everybody is happy with,” Martin said. “Basically with this they're making it easier for us to give the tests.”</p><p>Lafourche Secondary Schools Supervisor Bubba Orgeron cautioned that schools would likely still be stingy in giving out such tests.</p><p>“You have to look at what's in their best interests,” he said of students.</p><p>The state is also looking to give individual school systems more freedom to determine their calendar and schedules. </p><p>Orgeron said the calendar probably wouldn't see major changes — schools are still required to hold a mandatory number of class hours — but schools could tweak the length of individual days if necessary.</p><p>“We're going to look at it and see if there are some small changes here and there that we can make,” Orgeron. “But I don't expect there's going to be any kind of major change. Things are going to stay largely the same.”</p><p>Staff Writer Matthew Albright can be reached at 448-7635 or at matthew.albright</p><p>@dailycomet.com.</p>